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351 records in US in 2019
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution designates September 4, 2019, as National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Day and recognizes the need for additional research to find a cure.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Promote Responsible Oversight and Targeted Employee background Check Transparency for Seniors Act or the PROTECTS Act This bill allows Medicaid and Medicare providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities) to access, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, disciplinary information concerning affiliated physicians and other health care practitioners, as reported by state licensing authorities.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Expanding Research on Mass Violence Prevention Act This bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to engage in specified research and activities to improve surveillance, risk assessment, and prevention strategies related to mass violence.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
Expanding Health Care Options for Early Retirees Act This bill establishes a Medicare buy-in option for certain qualifying first responders. Specifically, the bill allows first responders aged 50 to 64 to enroll in Medicare if they are retired or otherwise separated from service due to a disability. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must determine enrollment periods and set premiums for the buy-in option established under the bill, in accordance with specified requirements. The CMS must also award grants to states and nonprofit organizations for outreach and enrollment activities relating to the buy-in option.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution designates September 2019 as National Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month and expresses support for continued research to prevent, detect, and treat brain aneurysms.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution designates September 2019 as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and pledges to make the prevention and a cure for cancer a public health priority.
United States · United States Congress · 26 September 2019
This resolution supports the designation of September 20, 2019, as National Concussion Awareness Day.
United States · United States House of Representatives · 25 September 2019
United States · United States House of Representatives · 25 September 2019
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
Flexibility Through Lower Expenses Health Care Act or the FLEX Act This bill provides statutory authority for certain short-term, limited-duration health insurance plans and association health plans. The bill permits short-term, limited-duration plans to provide coverage for a period of less than 12 months, not including extensions. Under current law, such plans are exempt from certain market requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, such as coverage of individuals with preexisting conditions. The bill further permits groups or associations of employers to sponsor fully insured group health plans as if they were employers. Such plans may not discriminate based on the health factors of any prospective plan participant for the purpose of granting an employer's membership in the association or determining a participant's eligibility for benefits or premium amounts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
This resolution recognizes the work of scientists in developing vaccines, encourages increased public understanding about the importance of vaccines to prevent disease, and supports funding for vaccine research and education efforts.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
Safe Step Act This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. A request for such an exception to the protocol must be granted if (1) an otherwise required treatment has been ineffective, (2) such treatment is expected to be ineffective and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences, (3) such treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (4) such treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities, (5) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected, or (6) there are other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The bill requires a group health plan to implement and make readily available a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol, including required information and criteria for granting an exception. The bill further specifies timelines under which plans must respond to such requests.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019 This bill alters several programs and requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs under Medicare and Medicaid. Among other things, the bill requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for certain drugs covered under Medicare for which the average manufacturer price increases faster than inflation; requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the CMS for discarded amounts of certain single-dose drugs covered under Medicare, based on information reported by providers; reduces the annual out-of-pocket spending threshold, and eliminates beneficiary cost-sharing above this threshold, under the Medicare prescription drug benefit; requires the CMS to publish certain information, as reported by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), relating to drug discounts and rebates, and payments between PBMs, health plans, and pharmacies; requires pass-through pricing models, and prohibits spread-pricing, for payment arrangements with PBMs under Medicaid; and increases the maximum rebate payable by drug manufacturers under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
This resolution designates September 2019 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and expresses support for its goals and ideals.
United States · United States Congress · 25 September 2019
This resolution (1) designates Malnutrition Awareness Week, (2) recognizes the work of nutrition professionals and others in advancing awareness and prevention of malnutrition, and (3) recognizes the importance of federal nutrition programs in preventing and treating malnutrition and the need to reauthorize certain programs to provide nutrition assistance to vulnerable populations.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to submit a plan addressing the actions and outcomes identified in the 2019 High-Risk List of the Government Accountability Office regarding acquisition management, risk management, and health care improvement.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
Turn the Tide Act This bill funds through FY2023 the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which established various programs to address opioid addiction. Funded programs include (1) grants to increase access to substance use disorder treatments; (2) research, training, and developing best practices within the public health sector; (3) prevention and recovery services for youth, women, and infants; (4) overdose prevention and treatment; and (5) other community, judicial, and administrative programs. The bill also reauthorizes through FY2024 and increases funding for the Opioid State Targeted Response grants program and reauthorizes through FY2029 and increases funding for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program. Further, the bill prohibits health insurance plans, including Medicaid, from requiring prior authorization for medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction. Plans also must cover at least one overdose-reversing drug without any cost-sharing requirement. The bill also revises Medicaid to require state payments to providers of mental and behavioral health services for substance use disorders and extends funding for demonstration projects that link provider payments to certain metrics. The bill also targets loan repayments for substance use disorder treatment professionals to states with the highest rates of drug overdoses. Additionally, separate payment classifications must be established for specified procedures covered by Medicare that utilize non-opioid drugs to treat pain after surgery. The bill also (1) establishes grant programs to support responses to children exposed to trauma, (2) expands support for the drug-free communities program, and (3) funds peer-mentoring pilot programs for law enforcement agencies.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act This bill repeals certain restrictions under Medicare and Medicaid that prohibit the approval of nurse-aide training and competency evaluation programs in skilled nursing facilities that have been subject to specified regulatory actions (e.g., civil penalties) for substandard quality of care. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must still disapprove such programs for up to two years; however, the CMS must rescind the disapproval upon completion of corrective action and may require additional oversight of the program for purposes of rescission.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
Chronic Condition Copay Elimination Act This bill requires health insurers to cover, without cost sharing, preventive items and services for certain chronic conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and asthma, among others.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution supports the designation of National Amplified Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome Awareness Day. (Amplified musculoskeletal pain syndrome or AMPS is a medical condition that causes individuals to experience an abnormal pain reflex that causes constriction of blood vessels, which deprives muscles of oxygen and results in acid buildup.)
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Suicide Prevention Month; recognizes suicide as a preventable public health problem and declares that suicide prevention should be a priority; and promotes awareness that there is no single cause for suicide and that particular attention should be paid to communities at heightened risk, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth and LGBTQ youth of color.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution recognizes the importance of education on, prevention, and treatment of substance use disorder and honors those in recovery from substance use disorder and the allies who support them.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution expresses support for the designation of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
National Patient Identifier Repeal Act of 2019 This bill repeals the requirement that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopt a standard unique health identifier for each individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider. Historically, language has been included in annual appropriations bills for HHS that prohibits the use of federal funds related to the development of a unique individual identifier. In 2019, however, an appropriations bill passed the House of Representatives without such a prohibition.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
E-Cigarette Device Standards Act of 2019 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to establish design standards that prevent consumers from modifying electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes and vape pens) or their components.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution designates September 2019 as National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month and expresses support for further research of treatments, therapies, and a cure for spinal cord injuries and individuals living with paralysis.
United States · United States Congress · 24 September 2019
This resolution designates September 23, 2019, as National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, encourages raising public awareness about preventing falls among older adults, and recognizes the agencies and organizations that work to reduce the incidence of such falls.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
Creating Hope Reauthorization Act This bill permanently reauthorizes a Food and Drug Administration program that awards priority review vouchers to manufacturers of drugs that treat rare pediatric diseases. (A priority review voucher entitles the voucher holder to priority review of a single human drug application.)
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
Bolstering Innovative Options to Save Immediately on Medicines Act or the BIOSIM Act This bill increases Medicare payments for biosimilars for five years. The bill applies to biosimilars for which the average sales price or wholesale acquisition cost is less than that of the reference biological product, as specified.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
Protecting Seniors from Health Care Fraud Act of 2019 This bill directs the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to report annually to Congress and the public on health care fraud that targets seniors. Specifically, the report must include (1) the 10 most prevalent health care fraud schemes targeted to seniors, (2) steps being taken to combat such schemes, and (3) policy suggestions to improve protections for seniors. The report may omit information or details that would compromise an ongoing investigation or would serve criminals rather than seniors. The report must be posted on certain agency websites and disseminated to Medicare beneficiaries, as specified.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act of 2019 This bill requires the share of federal funds for cancer research that is allocated to pediatric cancer research to equal the percentage of the U.S. population that is under the age of 18.
United States · United States Congress · 20 September 2019
This resolution recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program. (REACH is a national program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that aims to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic populations with the highest burden of chronic disease.) The resolution further expresses the commitment of the House of Representatives to protecting and expanding investments to address racial and ethnic health disparities and encourages federal agencies to build on the work of REACH grantees.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Greater Mental Health Access Act This bill establishes a special enrollment period for family members of individuals who died by suicide to enroll in, or change enrollment under, a health insurance plan. The bill also requires the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to use funds from the Prevention and Public Health Fund to award grants to medical providers and others to provide outpatient mental health services for individuals impacted by the attempted or completed suicide of a friend or family member.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Lead-Free Future Act of 2019 This bill addresses lead-based hazards, and their abatement, in residential properties. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to state and local governments and certain nonprofit organizations for the purpose of evaluating and reducing lead-based hazards in residential properties constructed before 1978. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may award grants to state and local governments to monitor blood lead levels in infants, children, and pregnant women and to educate the public on the risks of lead poisoning. To be eligible to receive funding from these grant programs and others addressing lead poisoning, a state or local government must have a blood lead reference level (i.e., the minimum concentration of lead at which it is recommended that public health actions be taken) at or below the level used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Applicants must also conduct an environmental investigation to identify environmental sources of lead exposure in residential properties and childcare facilities occupied by a child with an elevated blood lead level. In addition, HUD, the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Veterans Affairs must require alignment with specified federal laws, including those related to lead-risk assessment and lead-hazard remediation, as a condition of eligibility for federal mortgage programs and certain federally supported housing. These agencies must also test and remedy lead hazards in such housing.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Quell Underage Inhaling of Toxic Substances Act of 2019 or the QUITS Act of 2019 This bill increases the excise tax on various tobacco products and prohibits the flavoring of certain tobacco products.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Depression Side Effect Labeling Awareness Act of 2019 This bill specifies that, if a drug's label indicates an increased risk of suicide or depression, this information must displayed prominently.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2019 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to maintain a website and undertake other activities to educate health care providers, patients, and caregivers about biological products, biosimilar biological products, and interchangeable biosimilar biological products. Among other activities, HHS must develop or improve continuing education programs that address clinical considerations for biological and related products. Health care providers eligible for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System in Medicare may count completion of such a program as a clinical practice improvement activity.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Support And Value Expectant Moms and Babies Act of 2019 or the SAVE Moms and Babies Act of 2019 This bill prohibits the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving any new drug (either as a brand-name drug or a generic) intended to terminate a pregnancy and imposes additional restrictions on such drugs that are already approved. Under the bill, an already-approved drug intended to terminate a pregnancy may be dispensed to a patient only with a prescription. Furthermore, the FDA may not approve any labeling change that would authorize (1) using the drug after 70 days of gestation, or (2) dispensing the drug by any means other than in-person administration by the prescribing health care practitioner. The FDA must also impose additional restrictions on such already-approved drugs, including by (1) requiring the prescribing health care practitioner to receive a special certification, (2) prohibiting the practitioner to also act as the dispensing pharmacist, and (3) requiring the practitioner to have the ability to provide surgical intervention to the patient. The bill also rescinds any investigational use exemption already granted to such a drug if the bill would have prohibited the FDA from granting the exemption. (Currently, the FDA may grant an exemption to certain market approval requirements if a drug is intended solely for use in safety and effectiveness investigations.)
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
This resolution supports the designation of National Concussion Awareness Day.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Iron Dome Reinforcement Act of 2019 This bill prohibits certain foreign assistance to the Palestinian Authority or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) unless the Department of State certifies to Congress that the receiving entity (and its officials and agencies) has ceased paying compensation or benefits, other than benefits that are generally available to Palestinians, to the families of Palestinians killed in connection with committing an act of terrorism. The State Department shall periodically report to Congress on whether such requirements are being met. If they are not, foreign assistance that would have gone to the Palestinian Authority or the PLO shall be made available as assistance to Israel for its Iron Dome anti-rocket defense system.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Ending New Nicotine Dependencies Act of 2019 or the ENND Act This bill revises requirements for electronic nicotine delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-hookah, and vape pens). Specifically, the bill prohibits electronic nicotine delivery systems from containing flavors other than tobacco; sets forth standards on the permissible design of these systems; requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to report on the public health risks of tobacco use, including a focus on these systems and other alternative tobacco products; subjects these systems to excise tax requirements; and directs HHS to conduct a public awareness campaign to educate the public about the health implications of using these systems.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Telecommunications Safety Act of 2019 This bill requires the Food and Drug Administration to study the health effects of radiofrequency radiation from the fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks and future mobile networks.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
This resolution designates September 2019 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and expresses support for continued research to improve screenings and treatment of prostate cancer.
United States · United States Congress · 19 September 2019
Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 This bill establishes several programs and requirements relating to the prices of prescription drugs. In particular, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate prices for certain drugs (current law prohibits HHS from doing so). Specifically, HHS must negotiate maximum prices for (1) insulin products; and (2) at least 25 single source, brand-name drugs that do not have generic competition and that are among the 125 drugs that account for the greatest national spending or the 125 drugs that account for the greatest spending under the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage (MA). The negotiated prices must be offered under Medicare and MA, and may also be offered under private health insurance unless the insurer opts out. The negotiated maximum price may not exceed (1) 120% of the average price in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom; or (2) if such information is not available, 85% of the U.S. average manufacturer price. Drug manufacturers that fail to comply with the bill's negotiation requirements are subject to civil and tax penalties. The bill also makes a series of additional changes to Medicare prescription drug coverage and pricing. Among other things, the bill (1) requires drug manufacturers to issue rebates to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for covered drugs that cost $100 or more and for which the average manufacturer price increases faster than inflation; and (2) reduces the annual out-of-pocket spending threshold, and eliminates beneficiary cost-sharing above this threshold, under the Medicare prescription drug benefit.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
Advancing Access to Precision Medicine Act This bill allows state Medicaid programs to cover DNA sequencing clinical services for certain individuals. Specifically, states may cover such services for individuals under the age of 21 (or a lower age, if the state chooses) and for former foster youth under the age of 26 who (1) have been referred or admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit and seen by a medical specialist for a chronic or undiagnosed disease, and (2) are suspected by a medical specialist to have a pediatric-onset genetic disease. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may award grants to assist states in developing plans to cover such services. Additionally, the National Academy of Medicine must study the effects of genetic and genomic testing and ways to expand health insurance coverage of such services, including under Medicare and Medicaid.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Prevention Training Act of 2019 This bill requires the Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP) within the Administration for Children and Families to award grants to nonprofits, state agencies, elementary and secondary schools for demonstration projects to train students, teachers, and school personnel how to better understand, recognize, prevent, and respond to human trafficking and the exploitation of children and youth. Such projects also must collect data about the number of human trafficking survivors served and develop procedures to coordinate with law enforcement and appropriate social service organizations. The OTIP must consult with the appropriate agencies to determine and prioritize funding for geographic areas with the highest prevalence of human trafficking and largest underserved youth populations.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
Stop the Wait Act This bill eliminates the 5-month waiting period that applies to the payment of certain Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits for workers and surviving spouses and the 24-month waiting period that applies to Medicare coverage for workers who are eligible for SSDI benefits. In addition, the National Academy of Medicine must study disabling conditions that can be delayed or prevented if individuals access health care services and coverage before the condition reaches disability levels.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
Under Performing Directories that Affect Treating Emergencies Act or the UPDATE Act This bill requires qualified health plans to remove from their publicly accessible directory providers that are no longer in the network of the plan.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
This concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should issue regulations that require Medicare coverage of home infusion therapy services regardless of whether or not a skilled professional is present in the beneficiary's home on the day on which a home infusion drug physically enters the beneficiary's body.
United States · United States Congress · 18 September 2019
Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2019 This bill requires the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish a loan-repayment program for mental-health professionals who work in designated workforce-shortage areas.